The Portland daily press., 1887-02-10
the czAR's MANIA.
Ferocious Temper and Intenperance
Of the Autocrat OF Russia.
interview in the New York Herald.l

Interview in the New York Herald
you've heard the story here. too, Of the
assassination Of Count Reutern, an imperial
aide-de-camp, by the Gar. Well, that story,
although widely and repeatedly denied
through the influence Of the Russian govern
ment, was perfectly true. The Car shot him
dead bSEbs on the 81 sRos qss rs the
is more. Count Reutern belonged 10 us. and
the Gar had been warned against him by
Count TolstOi Although extraordinary pains
were taken to keep the deed a secret, il be-
came known in st. Petersburg. Right In the
| wake of this occurrence followed an invest
igation, ordered and assisted by the Gar.
The victims who were gathered In by the
police and who were-with0ut previous trial,
In the administrative way-subsequently ex-
lied to Eastern Siberia were the following:
Count Zeboloff, Baron Maximieff, Counsellor
Abilieh head Of the passport bureau), Wors-
hitzky and Kladine, the last two belonging 10
the imperial household. SevNal others In
the plot we're not discovered BY the police,
and two Of them are still in jail in the Rus
sian capital. There were many more with US
in the great enterprise which proved ab0r-
tive at the time, but as they had been assign
ed different roles, their names did not trans
pine, and they are safe as yet. But great
plot Is brewing at present. The nihllists are
not only more snumerOus In St. Petersburg
than ever but are also better organized and
better equipped with all needed means 10
make their moves during the, coming six
months successful Ii would be betraying
the cause to speak more definitely than have
done at this Juncture.
"What about the Car? Is his temper real
ly 50 violent and ferociors as has been said
occasionally? And does he really drink so
hard?" queried the reporter
"The emperor Is a confirmed, hopeless
slave to liquor, and he has had spells for
months past which understand 10 be pre-
monit0ry signs Of delirium tremens. Since
the relations between Germany and Russia
have ceased TO be strained, at least for the
time being, the official press In Germany has
taken great pains 10 deny the news published
at first withoutBismarck' interference, Of
brutal attack made by Alexander, Ill. upon
the military attache Of the German embassy
in st. Petersburg, Colonel Vuill0ume, but
that report, too, was true. II Is said that in
his first anger this Germany officer, a gallant
soldier, came near retaliating, and had al
ready made threatening motion toward the
Russian sovereign, when he was pulled back
and hurried off the scene by others who stood
near him at the time This incident happen
ed at time when war between Russia and
Germany seemed probable, short time be-
fore my arrest, and the Car was at that par
ticular moment ugly with liquor. The ever
gnawing fear Of meeting the fate Of his IA
ther, together with the consciousness that his
sin against his people Is daily becoming more
enormous anu ulffcutclndDlt. - what mas uTlN-
en- the Emperor TO drink. He knows that he
stands on the brink of a volcano whose depths
no one can measure. He knows that revenge
for his misdeeds as aruier and a man Will
come in the end, II not swiftly, at least sure
ly.
'"The Car has always been fond Of the de-
lights of the table, and while his father was
yet alive he has been carried away from the
table stupidity and insensibly drunk, on nu-
merous occasions. But while wine, especial
ly champagne. used to be his favorite drink
in former years, he has discarded that now
and devotes himself exclusively to French
cognac and Russian vodka. He seldom Is Ia
a condition to comprehend anything after
dinner His appetite has failed him Of late.
bis stomach being in an abnormal condition
and refusing TO assimilate anything but the
lightest food, and liquor has therefore all the
more terrible effect upon him. Last August,
while at Gatchina, he slew one Of his faith
full body servants, Sergel lvanOn BY name,
while In ht Of drunken rage He literally
| Drained the poor fellow with the heel Of his
bo0t--stamped the life out Of him. While in
these fits the Emperor Is even brutal to his
wife, and the affection that once existed be-
tween the imperial couple is well nigh ex-
| tiuet"